Reserve center ceiling to offer look at nature

Colors are spreading across a mural that will depict flora found in Elfin Forest during the four seasons. Picture sycamores, oak trees and chaparral.

The mural will wrap around the circular ceiling of Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve's interpretive center, which could open in May.

About 15 volunteers last week helped visiting artist Beth Clevenstine paint background layers on the mural by using various shades of base colors, such as blue, green and tan. Because the roof is circular, the mural is about 40 feet in circumference and 12 feet high.

Volunteers didn't have to paint upside down like Michelangelo. Elfin Forest resident Jeff Swenerton, who helped brush colors on clothlike material laid out on tables, said the material will be later attached to the ceiling. In the middle of the ceiling will be a skylight.

Clevenstine, who came up with the design, left earlier this week but will return in April to get the mural ready by mid-May, Swenerton said.

The 750-acre Elfin Forest reserve sits between southern Escondido and San Marcos. The Olivenhain Municipal Water District owns and operates the reserve.

Construction of the 1,000-square-foot interpretive center, off Harmony Grove Road, wrapped up in January but the building isn't ready yet, said Kevin Barnard, managing director of The Escondido Creek Conservancy. He said a mosaic tile floor showing the Escondido Creek watershed still needs to be finished, but work hasn't started on it.

The anticipated opening of the center will be in late May, said Swenerton, a conservancy board member. Barnard said additional displays and exhibits besides the mural and tile floor will be added later. What goes on display will depend on donations, which can be made online at escondidocreek.org.

The conservancy and the Olivenhain water district have been working together on the project.

It started with the water district receiving a matching $68,500 state grant to pay for a basic interpretive center. But the conservancy wanted to make the project nicer. It has raised more than $500,000, mostly from private donations.

The center's design and planned artwork were created by a father-and-son team, artist James Hubbell and his son, Drew, an architect.